An NHS pharmacist has issued a stark warning to UK tourists travelling with Mounjaro, a weight loss medication. The expert recommends keeping the jabs in your hand luggage and storing them with cool packs.
Storage Guidelines for Mounjaro
Mounjaro is typically designed to be stored below 30 degrees Celsius once in use. Peter Thnoia, weight loss pharmacist at NHS pharmacy PillTime, advised anyone travelling to a warmer country to use a cooling pouch or cool packs to help keep the medication within a safe temperature range.
“Your medication was probably delivered with cool packs, so consider popping these in the freeze to keep cold – and reuse them when travelling abroad,” he recommended.
Why Hand Luggage is Safer
“In the hold, you don’t have control over the conditions and you can’t access your medication if needed,” he explained. “Keeping it in your hand luggage means it stays in a more stable environment and gives you peace of mind throughout the journey.”
Hotel Fridge Risks
“Most weight loss injections are designed to be stored in the fridge between around 2 and 8 degrees Celsius before use, but hotel fridges can vary quite a lot,” he said. “In some cases, if they’re not working properly, they can end up cold enough to freeze the medication – which can affect how it works. If you’re unsure, storing it in a cool, shaded area of the room can sometimes be the safer option.”
Expiration and Usage Advice
How long Mounjaro and Wegovy last in the fridge depends on the pen's expiration date. If your pen expires before you’ve had a chance to use it, you should speak to your prescriber for advice. To prevent this, you should only order what you need. For both Mounjaro and Wegovy, you will need one pen per month, which you will inject once per week.
Inspect Before Use
You should always check the contents of your pen before injecting it to ensure that it’s safe for use. Inspect the pen to ensure it's not damaged and that the medication is clear without particles or cloudiness.
